Car 54 Where Are You Theme Song Written by Nat Hiken

Car 54 Where Are You Theme Song

Written by: Nat Hiken

Composed by: John Strauss

Car 54, Where Are You? (1961-1963)

Joe E. Ross: Officer Gunther Toody

Fred Gwynne: Officer Francis Muldoon

Al Lewis: Officer Leo Schnauser

Charlotte Rae: Sylvia Schnauser

Nipsey Russell: Officer Dave Anderson

Paul Reed: Captain Paul Block

Car 54 Where Are You Theme Song (Excerpt)
There’s a hold-up in the Bronx
Brooklyn’s broken out in fights
There’s a traffic jam in Harlem
That’s backed up to Jackson Heights …

Starring Fred Gwynne and Joe E. Ross

Officers Francis Muldoon and Gunther Toody

Car 54, Where Are You Photograph

Car 54, Where Are You?

Starring Fred Gwynne as Officer Francis Muldoon

Car 54, Where Are You? is an American sitcom that aired for two seasons on NBC from 1961 to 1963. The comedy series starred Joe E. Ross as Gunther Toody and Fred Gwynne as Francis Muldoon, NYPD officers working for a fictional precinct in The Bronx.

Nat Hiken, who wrote the lyrics to the catchy theme song, also penned most of the scripts for the series. Many of the scenes were shot on location in the The Bronx.

Al Lewis also portrayed an NYPD officer. He and Fred Gwynne would later team up again with great success in The Munsters, which aired from 1964 to 1966 on CBS.

Khrushchev’s nude? There’s a mondegreen or misinterpreted word in the theme song lyrics. One line has been misheard as “Khrushchev’s nude and I go wild,” instead of “Khrushchev’s due at Idlewild.” This was a reference to the Soviet leader arriving at New York’s major international airport, presumably to attend a meeting at the United Nations.

Joe E. Ross Trivia
Joe E. Ross provided vocals on a popular Milt Jackson jazz track–The Oo-Oo Bossa Nova. The album was called Jazz and Samba. “Oo-Oo” was continued as his trademark catch phrase in Car 54, Where are You?

Fred Gwynne

The Accomplished Actor Also Wrote and Illustrated Children’s Books, Sang Professionally, and Voiced Dozens of Commercials

Fred Gwynne Promotional Photograph

Fred Gwynne

Officer Francis Muldoon

Though best known as an actor, Fred Gwynne also enjoyed success as a children’s author. He wrote and illustrated 10 books, most involving homonym wordplay. Fred Gwynne’s children’s books include A Chocolate Moose for Dinner, A Little Pigeon Toad, Easy to See Why, Pondlarker, The Battle of the Frogs and the Mice, The Sixteen Hand Horse, and The King Who Rained.

Books by Fred Gwynne

The King Who Rained and A Chocolate Moose for Dinner

The King Who Rained Written and Illustrated by Fred Gwynne A Chocolate Moose for Dinner Written and Illustrated by Fred Gwynne

Fred Gwynne
When I was a teenager, I wanted to be a portrait painter. As I got to be older, I realized that as a portrait painter I wouldn’t be able to support a goldfish. I decided to take a stab at acting. I entered the American Academy of Dramatic Art, where one teacher told me I’d never make it–I was too tall.

Al Lewis

Officer Leo Schnauser

Al Lewis joined the show as Officer Leo Schnauser on December 10, 1961. The busy actor had played characters in two earlier episodes. His first appearance was as Al Spencer, a real estate construction guy in episode 5, “I Won’t Go.” Shortly afterward in episode 7, “The Paint Job,” his character repaired and repainted stolen cars for a car theft ring. A far cry from law enforcement!

Of course, Al Lewis will always be remembered for his role as the cape-clad “Grandpa Munster,” a perfect union with Fred Gwynne and Yvonne DeCarlo’s characters on The Munsters. The supernatural TV series aired on CBS from 1964 to 1966 and was followed by several film versions. After leaving episodic television, Al Lewis owned a restaurant, ran for political office, and worked as a radio broadcaster.

Al Lewis Photographs

The Munsters (1964-1966)

The Munsters – Al Lewis as Grandpa The Munsters Cast Photograph

Al Lewis
Every Friday I used to have about fifty, sixty kids who would wait for me on Sunset Boulevard and I’d take them all to dinner. All runaways.

Car 54, Where Are You?

53rd Precinct, The Bronx

Car 54, Where Are You Aluminum Wall Art

Car 54 Where Are You Theme Song

MP3 Music

Car 54, Where Are You Theme Song

Nat Hiken
All I’ve ever wanted is an honest week’s pay for an honest day’s work.

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